Shell Companies in Nigeria have engaged aggressively in searching for means of optimally draining the predominantly stacked reservoirs of the Niger Delta operating region. This quest, in 2002, led to the identification/adoption of intelligent well completion (IWC) technology as an acceptable means of connecting the multiple/stacked productive reservoirs to a single production well conduit (Single String Multiple - SSM). This paper serves to describe how a dedicated deployment team analyzed various proven intelligent completions architectures and ultimately settled for the ‘direct hydraulic' system as the pilot trial IWC solution for SPDC's Well Victor-2, a 3-Zone intelligent well The design comprises of interval/zonal isolation packers, Interval Control Valves (ICV), tubing and annulus Permanent Downhole Gauges (PDHG) for each zone and a low powered single well Surface Hydraulic System (SHS) with downhole data acquisition capability. The system is to be remotely monitored and operated by means of a field management supervisory application, named SmartWell Master™ (SWM), with some customization to accommodate the remote power and identified communication infrastructure constraint. The design offers easy operation and integration with the field control operational requirements and communication infrastructure. In recognition of the regional security challenges, the SHS and associated communication components were designed to be protected by an external enclosure which should allow front access for maintenance purposes - this is in addition to the customized platform design. Within the same protective platform enclosure, a Thermoelectric Generation unit (TEG) is installed to provide the SHS with necessary electrical power. A major configuration design challenge was that of ensuring efficient deployment of three hydraulic packers intandem noting that several deployment challenges had previously been recorded for single hydraulic packers' installations. Also, there were fears of inability to adequately confirm proper installation/sealing of a combination of external swell packers (integral with lower completion string) and internal hydraulic packers (integral with upper completion string). This paper further outlines how cementation, dimensional accuracies, proper integration of lower and upper completions compatibility, assurance of proper platform design, surface equipment communication, definition and management of the interfaces between all vendors involved in the pilot deployment project, proper stakeholders engagement, among others were considered and treated as key success factors to the pilot installation.
With increasing energy demand, cost optimization and environmental challenges; using smart techniques to produce multiple reservoirs in a single well is a much welcomed concept. Intelligent completions have been proven to be an efficient reservoir management tool and Shell Nigeria (SPDC) has tapped on this innovative technology to optimize production enhancement in one of its fields.
Smartwell has become a routine technology solution in various parts of the world (including Nigeria) but is yet to receive total acceptance in Nigeria as the Industry regulators have remained opposed to commingled production pending demonstrable evidence of production allocation to individual producing reserves. It is still a frontier project in Nigeria and therefore requires a dedicated and concerted approach of winning stakeholders' acceptance.Various challenges, ranging from risk aversion to fears of a repeat first attempt 'partial success' experience, contributed to the current low (near zero) performance of Shell Nigeria in the Nigerian Smart Completion deployment hierarchy. Notably, Chevron is the industry leader in Nigeria with over 22 wells while Shell Nigeria is about the last with only one attempt. The single 'failed' attempt of the technology in 2002 gave rise, in 2004, to a deployment strategy change which met with an opposition both internally and externally.Undeterred by the challenge of persuading all stakeholders to embrace a repeat trial, work continued assiduously towards ensuring that the technology benefits are fully harnessed/realized through an aggressive and transparent approach of constructive stakeholders' engagements, development of pragmatic contracts and detailed researches into best practices. This paper presents a transparent and focused approach adopted through all stages of the project, which culminated in the final 'textbook' Smartwell deployment. It also outlines how stakeholders involvement in the Major Smartwell contract initiation and award coupled with a collective orchestration of deployment planning further enabled a hitch-free deployment. Notably, this paper buttresses how the quest for success assurance and building of stakeholders' confidence, culminated into the constitution of a project deployment team comprising of operator, Partners, regulators and Contractors' representatives. The project team was tasked with the responsibility of working collaboratively to ensure success of the deployment as it would enable the next FDP for the field.
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